Christian Segregation, Is it Biblical?
Part 1: INTRODUCTION
The first issue that we will deal with to obtain a clear Biblical understanding of this issue is the difference between the carnal and the spiritual world. The Scriptures are clear that the carnal world and the spiritual world are very different:
Romans 8:5-
All things in life have two sides for the true child of God, a spiritual side and a carnal side. No born again believer is or will be perfectly spiritual in every way while we dwell on this earth. Due to this fact it is imperative that we constantly:
2 Timothy 2:15-
If we do this it will be much easier to discern questions in life and to discern if any decision is in accordance with or contrary to God’s Word. When ever our view agrees with God’s Word we need to hold on to it, if it disagrees or contradicts God’s Word then we need to change:
Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
PART 2: THE CARNAL (Lost) WORLD
What does God say about the carnal world in His Word? How does God expect the carnal world to act? A Christian is commanded some things that do not apply to the carnal world since they are not God’s Children. Since our soul is saved as a Christian, and the body is not, we must learn to separate what our carnal side is telling us from what God’s Spirit is telling us. The lost world has not the spirit of God and thus does not have this privilege. Some instructions, directions, precepts etc., in God’s Word are directed to the lost but most to the saved. We must learn to discern the difference, and how and why God placed them there.
Notice what God’s Holy and Inerrant Word says:
Isaiah 48:22, There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.
He repeats it again here:
Isaiah 57:21, There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
The “lost” world will never know the true peace that is obtainable from God unless they become “born again.” All lost peoples are the children of the devil (according to the Bible) and because he is their father,
John 8:44, ... the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. ... .
The carnal mind is to follow its own will and agenda. Because each carnal person does this there will always be strife with carnal peoples (this also applies to a Christian with a carnal mind that has been allowed to win over the spiritual). It doesn’t matter be it black or white, white and white, or any other combination of ethnic group, it will always lead to strife, fighting, prejudices, and injustices. As God said there is no peace to the ungodly! Thus in the unsaved world nobody will ever dwell together in harmony no matter what their color or social status is. Yes, there is more “togetherness” in the lost world based on ethnic background, but there is also is great strife even among them that look alike.
Did God create this strife especially in ethnic difference in the Garden of Eden? No, obviously not. Then why did God decide to put so many differences in the peoples of the world (create ethnic divides)? It is simply because God wanted the wicked in derision! God reveals this in Genesis 11. The lost world had grown more and more wicked after the flood and had conspired together to build a tower to Heaven. God knew this was foolishness but if He would have allowed them to continue to go this way they all would have followed each other straight into hell. They were acting just like the critters that run blindly following each other till they run over the edge of a cliff and perish in the sea. God out of His grace confounded their languages and scattered them upon the face of the earth so that they could see more clearly to realize that their hope was not in themselves. This reestablished the need in their heart to turn to the Creator for beneficence, the true peace that was written about in:
John 14:27, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
In the lost world segregation does some to bring about “civility” or tolerance of each other, but neither segregation nor desegregation will ever bring about peace for the peoples of the world. There will never be unity within each “race” without the Spirit of God, much less outside of each “race.” No matter what a government rules, inwardly the lost people will always be at enmity against each other and hold prejudices and hatred for any that are different from themselves whether in looks or philosophy. This is the reason why God’s people were constantly warned about mixing with the heathen and their idolatrous ways.
Ezra 9:1-
When a person is lost, they have no peace. When a saved person is walking carnally (like a lost person) there is no peace. We are not to make league with them, nor seek their possessions to supplement ours-
In the lost world segregation helps, but does not solve any problems. The problems with all ethnic diversities is a sin problem of the heart. Until this is solved (Salvation) , the problem will exist.
Part 3: THE SPIRITUAL (Saved) WORLD
Should the same conclusion be applied to the saved (spiritual) world as the lost (carnal) world? First we must deal with one real issue that crops up in the subject of segregation. There are different theories on the “races” and how they developed. Some teachings say that there was a special “curse” on the “black race” that cannot be overcome and thus the necessity even of Christian separation or segregation. This Theory comes from the belief that the curse of Ham and subsequent placing of that curse on Canaan was the start of the “black race.” Let us look at this situation with Ham.
Genesis 9:22, And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
I have heard many teach that this was a sexual sin that Ham committed against his father-
Leviticus 20:11, And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
The most logical conclusion from Scripture is that Noah and Mrs. Noah were drunk together and fell asleep. Ham upon finding them in the state of sleep and drunkenness and nakedness, took liberties which were not his to take against his own mother. There is no other evidence in the Bible to suggest any other case than this. What did the curse encompass that Ham caused to be upon his son Canaan? The literal meaning of the name “Ham” means hot or burnt. From this some concluded that Ham was cursed to be the father of a separate black race that was doomed to be slaves forever to Japheth and Shem’s generation. There is a fault in using a person’s name to determine what color there skin was. Canaan literally means red or purple. With the same logic applied does this mean that Canaan’s descendents are the American Indians? Esau literally means hairy, rough, red. This is Esau the father of the Indians or all the ethnic groups that have a lot of hair? This line of reasoning is of much conjecture and of no Scriptural backing. God clearly tells in His Word the things we ought to be concerned with and keeps silent where we ought not be concerned. The only thing that we can be sure of is that Canaan was cursed,
Genesis 9:25, And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
This is an important phrase and will be examined a little more later on in this document. Before we do that let us examine the matter of separation that God laid down for the Israelites.
God’s Word clearly tells His people not to mingle with the heathen nations around them. Did this mean that He excluded the heathen from ever forsaking their ways and their gods to turn to Him? No, this was not the case. A “proselyte” Jew is a heathen that forsook his own religious beliefs to believe in and serve the God of Israel. God made provision for this, and when it happens that person becomes a literal “Jew” in every sense of the word. In other words when a “heathenite” followed the Scriptures in becoming Jew, he was no longer considered as a “heathenite” but as a Jew. Thus an Israelite could not marry an idolatrous heathen, but an Israelite could marry a proselyte Israelite and have all the fellowship therewith.
This same principal is found in the New Testament applied to the “born again” believers and is a principle found throughout God’s Word-
John 1:12, But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:
Very clearly this verse states that anyone that is born again is a child of God. It does not matter who or where a person is from, how rich or poor, white or black, or anything else “in-
Matthew 18:5-
Take a look at verse 10:
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Most children do not know what their father requires of them until they grow and get to know their father personally. Once someone understands and loves their Heavenly Father the way they ought to it will be evident in their lives:
Psalms 119:165, Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
God’s people ought to have that type of PEACE not the devil’s division.
God loves His children no matter their earthly circumstances happen to be. God loves each born again child of His and He gives so much clear instruction on how He wants His children (the BRETHREN) to treat each other. It is so clear in the Bible it is hard to understand why there is such division over it.
Genesis 13:8, And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
Who was in the wrong in this verse? Clearly Lot was the one who sought his own profit. Most of the outward display of Lot had to have been Godly for Abram to have allowed him to live with him, but Lot’s heart was not right. God expects all brethren to dwell together in unity, and if unable to-
Psalms 119:63, I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts.
A companion is one who keeps company with another, one with whom a person frequently associates and converses, one who may live with another. The Psalmist says under God’s direction that all who fear God and Keep His precepts are his companion. That should be our attitude.
Psalms 133:1, A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Note it does not say, “All those that dwell apart in unity.” God expects His children to DWELL TOGETHER in unity. Dwell means to live together including and up to living under the same roof.
Malachi 2:10, Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Matthew 12:48-
Jesus couldn’t have been clearer here! He simply states that all doing His will are equal. There is no distinction between the brethren in these statements.
Luke 22:32, But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Does Jesus tell Peter, “Strengthen thy brethren that looks like you.” Not at all. The simple truth is that we are all required to strengthen any brethren around us.
John 10:16, And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
There must be one fold not one fold with many compartments. All the sheep dwelt together in the fold peacefully, this is a sign of God.
John 13:34-
There should not be any difference in the treatment of any brethren. It is very clear in this verse. As Christ loved them we are to love them, end of statement! He did not say love those brethren that are tanned like you are etc.!
John 17:22-
How will the world know that we are Christian? By the way that we treat ALL the brethren. They are supposed to see perfect unity within the brethren. There should be no divisions or quarrels among brothers. The world is not used to seeing this, and by this they cannot deny God at work. There should be no segmentation or fragmentation. This is the way that Atheist can see God at work. This is the one thing that defeats all their “logical” humanistic theology. The communist had planned to ruin America by causing America to integrate the races because they knew the wordly crowd would not get along and it would cause strife, and eventual downfall of America. Notice what they had planned:
Written in the early 1900’s by a communist leader:
“We must realize that our party’s most powerful weapon is racial tension. By pounding into the consciousness of the dark races that for centuries they have been oppressed by the whites, we can mold them to the program of the Communist party. In America we will aim for a subtle victory. While inflaming Negro minorities against the whites, we will endeavor to instill in the whites a guilt complex for their exploitation of the Negroes. We will aid Negroes to rise in prominence in every walk of life, in the professions, in the world of sports and entertainment. With this prestige the Negroes will be able to marry with the whites and begin a process which will deliver America to our cause.”
Why did it not work? Because they under-
Matthew 1:5, And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
Here we find in the lineage of Jesus Christ two Old Testament ladies that have a very interesting heritage. First we have Rahab the harlot. Rahab was from the city of Jericho (Joshua 2:1-
2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
She was now a Jew and legally entitled to marry a Jew. She was no longer a Canaanite. Ezra 9:1-
“Compare Ezra 10:1-
This was a trespass because they had not forsaken their ways and become proselyte Jews. Rahab and Ruth did thus they did not cause their husbands to transgress against God! Thirdly look at what Moses did,
Numbers 12:1, And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
Why did Miriam and Aaron speak against this marriage? Obviously because of the difference in skin color. Were they speaking from God’s viewpoint or from their own? The Scriptures clearly shows us in these verses speaking about what He did to Miriam and Aaron,
Numbers 12:9-
If Moses was the one who broke the law he would have been punished. This clearly says God’s anger was against Miriam and Aaron, not Moses. Miriam was punished with leprosy for saying something God did not say. God gives clear warning in the Old and New Testament that He would punish people for saying things that He did not say but claiming that He did. They thought they were speaking or God but they found out they were not.
Part 4: CONCLUSION
We are not talking about wayward brethren who refuse to deal with their sin, we are talking about true brothers and sisters in Christ who are doing God’s will and how they are treated by other brethren who “are doing” the “will of God” in their lives. There is no argument that there should be ecclesiastical separation of a church or “brother” which departs from doctrines clearly outlined in the Scriptures. it is sad to say that this is not the case in many Christian circles. The Bible clearly tells us all Christians are to work together, play together, worship together, fellowship together, etc. God clearly defines the habitats of Christians without indicating whatsoever a secondary separation. Please do not take this wrong and say we can marry whoever we want. You can marry whoever God wants you to marry. You can work a business partnership with whoever God wants you to work a business partnership with. Scripture clearly proves God does not base this on ethnic background but on His constantly revealed plan for your life. We must know God’s plan for our life and maintain a walk on that narrow road. This is a day by day walk and talk with God to make decisions that He would have us make that are not outlined in Scripture (Example: The Scriptures do not contain the name of the person you are to marry, or the command to stay single if that is God’s lot for you). The point is that we don’t speak out against something that God’s Word does not. Here are more evidences to how God would have brethren treat each other no matter the ethnic background.
Romans 12:10, Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Romans 15:7, Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Romans 16:17, Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
1 Corinthians 1:10, Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
2 Corinthians 6:14, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Galatians 3:26, For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:14, For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Philippians 1:27, Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
1 Thessalonians 4:9, But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
2 Thessalonians 3:14, And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
1 Peter 1:22, Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 Peter 2:17, Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
1 Peter 3:8, Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1 John 1:7, But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 2:9, He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
Red, Yellow, Black, Brown, and White,
ALL are precious in Jesus sight!
Once Someone is Saved, God’s Desire is that:
Psalm 133:1, Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
1 John 2:9, He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
1 John 3:16, Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Galatians 6:10, As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Ephesians 2:14, For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;